At least two rockets launched form the besieged Gaza Strip have landed in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv, bypassing the Iron Dome missile system to mark yet another embarrassing defeat for one of the world’s most expensive military forces.

Several people told local media that they could hear two loud blasts in in the Gush Dan (the greater Tel Aviv area), while some also claimed to have seen Iron Dome missiles being launched.

Authorities in Tel Aviv and Rishon Lezion municipalities said they would open public shelters as a cautionary measure.

The Iron Dome missile system was activated but apparently failed to intercept any of the missiles.

The Israeli military confirmed the news but tried to pass off the interception failure as a result of the missile system’s self-destruction mechanism which kicked in once it realized the missiles were going to land in open areas.

Initial reports suggested that the rockets caused no damages or injuries. However, several people had to be treated for shock as this was the first time since Israeli’s last war with Gaza in 2014 that missile sirens were being activated in Tel Aviv.

Military spokesman Ronen Manelis said nobody in Tel Aviv expected Palestinian rockets to travel this far.

"We did not have advance knowledge of this fire today, and in fact it surprised us," Manelis said.

Israel launches attacks on Gaza

Shortly after the attack, the Israeli military said it was "attacking terror targets in Gaza" but did not provide any details. Palestinian sources reported Israeli attacks near the Khan Yunis port, in southern Gaza.

Eyewitnesses in Gaza said Israeli warplanes were carrying out airstrikes across the enclave.

Press TV's correspondent said there had been no reports of casualties from the Israeli attacks, but people living in Gaza feared a major escalation from the Israeli military.

Netanyahu calls emergency meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also acts as the regime’s minister for military affairs, called an emergency meeting at army headquarters after the rocket attack.

According to reports, Israelis had asked an Egyptian security delegation in Gaza to leave the area. Media outlets in Gaza reported that the Hamas resistance movement had evacuated military posts in anticipation of Israeli attacks.

The delegation has been mediating indirect talks between Hamas and Israel since late February reportedly in hopes of striking a truce deal that could lead to a long-term agreement lasting between five to 10 years.

A Palestinian source in Gaza told Haaretz that the rockets were fired from the northern part of the enclave. No Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinian resistance movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad denied any role in the attack.

Iron Dome’s failure

The missile attack further hurts Iron Dome’s reputation as a missile shield system that was supposed to once and for all end concerns about rocket attacks from Gaza.

The multi-billion dollar system experienced a humiliating defeat during the latest military flare-up between Gaza and Tel Aviv in November, when Hamas fired more than 460 rockets at the occupied lands in less than 24 hours in response to Israeli aggression.

The clashes ended after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire took effect in Gaza.

The truce was criticized by some Israeli officials and led Avigdor Lieberman to step down as the minister of military affairs. The resignation, which could bring about early elections in the occupied lands, was hailed by Hamas as “an admission of defeat” and a “political victory” for the Palestinian resistance.

Back then, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar warned Israel not to test the resistance group again or it will target Tel Aviv.

Sinwar noted that he had spoken to Muhammad Deif, the leader of Hamas’s military wing the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades about the possible response to next aggression by Israel.

“Deif asked me to say that Tel Aviv and Gush Dan are next. The first barrage to hit Tel Aviv will surprise Israel," he said.

Media sources said the navy fired many live rounds at the fishing boats in Palestinian territorial waters, in addition to using water cannons, and surrounded one boat before abducting two fishermen, identified as Mohammad Adnan Sultan and Hasan Akram Zayed.

The attack is part of ongoing violations against the fishermen in the besieged Gaza Strip, in addition to constant violations targeting farmers and shepherds on Palestinian lands close to the perimeter fence, in the eastern parts of the coastal region.

A Palestinian young man was pronounced dead at dawn Monday after he succumbed to an injury he sustained during his participation in a March of Return rally staged last Monday in the east of Khan Younis, south of Gaza.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, 22-year-old Bassam Safi died of a serious injury after an Israeli tear gas canister directly hit his head last February.

With the death of Safi, the number of Palestinian protesters who had been killed by Israeli soldiers since the March of Return rallies started in March 30, 2018 rose to 270 martyrs.

Israeli naval forces detained two Palestinian fishermen, off the coast of the northern besieged Gaza Strip, on Sunday.

Local sources confirmed that Israeli naval forces detained two fishermen while working within the permitted fishing zone and confiscated their fishing boat and sailed it to an unknown location.

One of the detained fishermen was identified as Hussam Barkat.

Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers deployed in military watchtowers opened fire towards Palestinian agricultural lands east of Rafah and Khan Younis.

No injuries were reported.

According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israel’s blockade of the coastal enclave has seriously undermined the ability for Gazan fishermen to make a living at sea.

As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.

The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95% of fishermen living below the poverty line.

Local rights organization, Al-Haq, has documented many cases of Israeli aggression toward Palestinian fishermen off the Gazan coast, calling the Israel's action against the fishermen "collective punishment" that imposes "difficult economic and social conditions."

The Israeli Air Force fired, late on Saturday at night, many missiles targeting sites run by armed resistance groups in several parts of the Gaza Strip, after the army alleged that a balloon, carrying an anti-tank shell, was flown from Gaza.

Palestinian media sources said the Israeli Air Force fired a missile at Asqalan site, in northern Gaza, and shortly afterwards fired two more missiles, causing excessive damage.

They added that the army also fired missiles into Al-Waha site, the same center, which was bombarded less than 24 hours earlier, causing serious damage.

Furthermore, the Israeli Air Force fired missiles into a building, used by the Palestinian Fishermen’s Syndicate, west of Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, causing damage.

Israeli sources quoted the army stating that a “suspicious balloon which was launched from the Gaza Strip into the Sdot Negev Regional Council of settlements, was carrying an anti-tank shell.”

They added that the device did not explode, and was safely defused by police sappers.

Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the besieged Gaza Strip, on Saturday morning.

Locals reported that Israeli war boats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of al-Sudaniya in the northern Gaza Strip.

Sources added that Israeli naval forces also opened fire targeting fishermen off the coast of Sheikh Ajlin area in western Gaza City.

Fishermen were forced to head back to shore in fear for their lives; no injuries were reported.

Israeli warplanes had carried out several airstrikes across Gaza, earlier Saturday, targeting sites allegedly belonging to the Hamas movement.

As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.

The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95 percent of fishermen living below the poverty line.